Chinatown is a Chinese settlement area, with their own industries and cultures.
Location of Chinatown
Chinatown is located in the eastern part of the city of Kolkata. It is the only Chinatown in India. The locality was once home to 20,000 ethnic Chinese Indian nationals; now the population has dropped to approximately 2,000.
History of Chinatown
During the time of Warren Hastings, a businessman by the name of Tong Achi established a sugar mill, along with a sugar plantation at Achipur, 33 kilometres from Kolkata, on the bank of the Hooghly River near the town of Budge Budge. The immigration to India from China can be found in a short treatise from 1820. The first wave of immigration was of Hakkas but does not elaborate on the professions of these immigrants. According to a later police census, there were 362 Chinese in Kolkata in 1837. A common meeting place was the Temple of Guan Yu, the God of loyalty, located in the Chinese quarter near Dharmatolla. A certain C. Alabaster mentions in 1849 that Cantonese carpenters congregated in the Bowbazar Street area. As late as 2006, Bow Bazar is still noted for carpentry, but few of the workers or owners are now Indians of Chinese origin.
Occupation of Chinese People of India
The traditional occupation of the Chinese Indian community in Kolkata had been working in the nearby tanning industry as well as in Chinese restaurants, which are popular among the people of Bengal.
Economy of Chinatown
The economy of Chinatown is based on lard manufacturers and shoemakers. There are running tanneries and working with leather that were traditionally not considered respectable professions among upper-caste Hindus, and work was relegated to the so-called "lower caste".
Geography of Chinatown
Chinatown is divided into two portions, Old Chinatown (Tiretta Bazar) and New Chinatown (Tangra).
Attractions in China Town
Chinatown has the special attractions like momos in breakfast during the winter times and temples dedicated to the Chinese gods. The old cemetery of Achipur is also worth visiting. Achipur is known as the birthplace of old Chinese settlements in eastern part of India. Achipur is located at 33 km from Kolkata.
Related Articles
West Bengal, Indian State
Cities of West Bengal
Culture of West Bengal
Tourism In West Bengal
Kolkata
Economy of Kolkata
History of Kolkata
